City leaders embraced changes to the Chapter 5 ordinance on December 13, 2007, voting to accept the newly restructured laws. The changes include incentives for sterilization and responsible pet ownership.

The revisited ordinance DOES NOT include mandatory sterilization for all pets. Instead, sterilization will be required for animals that have been declared dangerous, pets that have been impounded more than once and cats that are housed exclusively outdoors. Residents who own dogs they wish to keep intact can purchase a permit to do so.  

Many of the proposed requirements actually allow for exceptions based on special circumstances. Examples include excess animal permits, intact animal permits and medical exceptions for animals unable to be sterilized. The dangerous/vicious portion of the ordinance went into affect immediately upon passage. The litter permit, excess animal permit as well as revised permits for pet shop and grooming businesses went into affect March 1, 2008 with implementation of the intact animal permit delayed until January 1, 2009.

The ordinance and fee structure can be seen in their entirety by selecting the link below.

English

Chapter 5 Ordinance

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------




For more information please click here to email our staff.